Garter and fabric band



April 20, 1943. M, HERBENQR 2,316,958

GARTER AND FABRIC BAND' Filed Nov. 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l HenrgMHrbener April 1943. H. .M. HERBENER 2,316,958

GARTER AND FABRIC BAND Filed Nov. 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :irf I a v Slums-1gb i E l 5 Henry MHerbener Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARTER AND FABRIC BAND I Henry M. Herbener, Thomasville, ca; Applicat-ion November 13, 1940, Serial No.;365,511

' 7 Claims. (01. 2, s1s) v My invention relates to garters and a fabric ban-d for the production of the garter and for other uses.

An important object of the invention is to provide a garter which will not roll and will lie fiat and which'may be readily turned so that the stocking may be wound'about it.

A further object of the invention is to provide an elastic band or fabric having rib receiving pockets formed integral therewith and means for permitting of the insertion of a stiffening rib within the pocket after the pocket has been formed,- without liability of the improper escape of the rib from the end of the pocket." A further object of the invention is to. Provide a stiffening rib for insertion within the pocket to which a flexible suspension element is secured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application for Girdle or like article of apparel, filed August 12, 1939, Serial No. 289,921.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

I Figure 1 is a side elevation of an elastic band or fabric embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a similar view taken on line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the band, parts broken away,

' Figure 6 isa horizontal section taken on line B--6 of Figure l, a v

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a slightly modified form of band or fabric,

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a garter formed from a section of the band or fabric,

Figure 8 is a similar view of a garter formed from a section of the band or fabric and being adjustable circumferentially,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the garter, showing a flexible suspension element connectedtherewith,

Figure-l0 is a vertical section taken on line Hie-H101? Figure 9, and Figure 11 are diagrammatic views illustrating the application of the garter to the stocking.

Lil

Attention being'called first to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, the numeral 15 designates a flexible fabricband or strip, which is longitudinally elastic and transversely non-elastic. This band is formed of a woven or knit fabric. It is preferred to weave the longitudinally elastic band I5 and such band comprises elastic longitudinal threads l6 and transverse non-elastic threads orfillin l1. Woven integral with the band 15 are transverse preferably equidistantlyspaced pockets l8, formed by dividing the elastic threads 16 at the longitudinal edges of the pocket. Each pocket comprises opposed sides [9 and 2|], see particularly Figure 6, and each side is horizontally or longitudinally elastic with respect to the band and vertically or transversely non-elastic with respect to the band. The spaces between the pockets are, of course, longitudinally elastic and transversely non-elastic. Both ends 2! of each pocket are formed permanently closed by the weaving or knitting operation. One side of each pocket, such as the side 20, is provided with a slot 22, extending horizontally or longitudinally with respect to the band. The slot 22 extends transversely of the pocket and is preferably substantially shorter than the width of the pocket and "the slot 22 is arranged near and spaced a substantial distance from one end 2| of the pocket to provide a relatively short side portion outwardly of the slot. The numeral 23 designates a stiffening rib. for insertion within the pocket. This rib preferably has a width slightly greater than the width of the pocket, when the pocket is entirely released from tension, so that the pocket is under slight tension when the rib is therein. The rib 23 has substantially the same length as the interior length of the pocket l8 and substantially contacts with the opposite ends of the pocket.

To insert this rib within the pocket,- the pocket I8 is stretched in a direction longitudinally of the band so that'the slot 22 is elongated sufficiently for the passage'therethrough of the stiffening rib 23. This stiifening rib is passed into the pocket until its forward end engages the end wall 2| remote from the pocket, after which the relatively short portion of the side 20 outwardly of the slot 22 is'stretchedabo-ut the rear end of the stiffening rib until the adjacent end of the pocket also receives the adjacent end of the stillening rib. The pocket is then released and the elastic threads 13 return the same to itsnorreal size, whereby'the stiffening rib is securely held within and enclosed by the pocket. Th end of the rib extends outwardly in'a longitudinal directionwithin the pocket beyond the slot 22' and therefore cannot work through this slot when the band or fabric is in use upon the wearer, even if the pocket should become stretched so that the slot 22 should become as long as the width of the stiffening rib.

In Figure 7, I have shown the complete band I 5 as described in connection with Figures 1 to 6 inclusive formed into a garter 24, the ends of the band being secured together by zig-zag stitching preferably covered by a rubber preparation, such as Lastex,

In Figure 8, the garter 24 is circumferentially adjustable and its ends are detachably connected. To effect this, a releasable buckle is provided comprising a plate 26 having a loop 21. This plate has a key-hole opening 28 to receive a vertical hook 29. This hook is carried by a plate 30 having a loop 3! attached to one end of the garter 24. The opposite end portion of the garter is free from pockets and stiffening ribs and this end portion is passed through the loop 2'! and then through a friction keeper 32, attached to such end portion. It is obvious that the plate 26 may be adjusted longitudinally upon the end portion of the garter, to vary the circumference of the garter when closed, by the hook entering the slot 28. The invention is in no sense restricted to the particular form of buckle or adjusting means to regulate the circumference of the garter as they are conventional as shown and are intended for the purpose of illustration only.

As shown in Figure 11, the upper end of the stocking is first bent down and the garter is applied about this bent down portion, as shown at A. Then the lower end of the bent down portion is folded up over the garter, as shown at B. The upper end of the stocking thus folded about the garter is next turned upwardly and inwardly and the parts assume the relation shown at C. The garter and upper end of the stocking passed about the garter is again turned upwardly and inwardly and the parts assume the relation shown at D. This is the preferred manner of applying the garter to the stocking but, of course, it may be applied in other ways and the garter may be used in connection with the stocking by simply passing the garter around the stocking without folding or winding the stocking about the garter. It is obvious that the foregoing description of the use of the garter applies to the garters shown in Figures 7 and 8. The advantage of the garter shown in Figure 8 is that it may be more readily applied to the leg and is adjustable to accommodate itself to different sizes of legs. The stiffening ribs 23 serve to prevent the garter from folding in a direction longitudinally of the band thus retaining the same flat in use and also aid ing in the turning over of the garter. It is preferred that a stiffening rib be held within each of the pockets but the invention is not necessarily restricted to this as some degree of success may be obtained by omitting some of the ribs if desired.

InFigures 9 and 10, I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention. The same garter 24 is used, formed from the same band l5 having the identical pockets l8 and slots 22. However, I employ a slightly different form of stiffening rib 33 in all or some of the pockets. The rib 33 has a length substantially equal to the interior length of the pocket l8, Figures 9 and 10, and substantially contacts with the opposite ends of the pocket. The rib has a short portion extending upwardly beyond the slot 22, as shown. The stiffening rib 33 is provided near one end with a pair of spaced transverse slots 34, forming a transverse web 35, to be arranged adjacent to the slot 22. This web has a flexible suspension element 36 attached thereto, by any suitable means, preferably by passing the end of the flexible suspension element about the web and then stitching the overlapped portions of the suspension element together. Any other suitable means may be employed to secure the suspension ele ment 36 to the stiffening rib 33. The suspension element 36 passes outwardly through the slot 22 and is attached to a girdle 31 or other foundation garment by any suitable means, detachable or otherwise. It is thus seen that the garter will be suspended from the foundation garment. The garter may be suspended atone or more points, as may be found advantageous, and of course any suitable number of suspension elements will be employed, the same being attached to the stiffening ribs. In connection with this form of the invention the garter may be used without rolling the stocking about the same, or the garter may be turned to roll the stocking about it and the suspension element will be wound with the stocking.

In Figure 6*, I have shown a slight modification of the invention. In this figure, I have shown a band l5 which is identical with the band I 5, having the same pockets l8, slots 22, and stiffening ribs. This band has an extension I5 projecting beyond the ends of the pockets and this extension or flap is employed in sewing the band to foundation garments, such as shown in my Patent 2,136,742.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An elongated fabric section having longitudinal edges and being longitudinally elastic, said fabric section having transverse spaced pockets extending throughout the major portion of the width of the fabric section, the opposite ends of each pocket being permanently closed and disposed adjacent to the opposite longitudinal edges of the fabric section, each pocket having opposite sides elastic longitudinally of the fabric section and the spaces between the pockets being elastic longitudinally of the fabric section, each pocket having one side provided with a transverse slot disposed adjacent to and spaced from one end of the pocket, said side having a relatively short portion disposed between the slot and the adjacent end of the pocket and a long portion disposed between the slot and the opposite end of the pocket and extending throughout the major portion of the length of the pocket, and a tiffening rib having a length substantially equal to the interior length of the pocket for insertion on said pocket, the said relatively short portion being adapted to'be stretched over the adjacent end of the rib when the rib is inserted into the pocket through the slot and substantially engages the,

end of the pocket remote from the slot.

2. An elongated fabric section having longitudinal edges and being longitudinally elastic, said fabric section having transverse spaced pockets extending throughout the major portion of the Width of the fabric section, the opposite ends of each pocket being permanently closed and disposed adjacent to the opposite longitudinal edges of the fabric section, each pocket having opposite sides elastic longitudinally of the fabric section and the spaces between the pockets being elastic longitudinally of the fabric section, each pocket having one side provided with a transverse slot disposed adjacent to and spaced from one end of the pocket, said side having a relatively short portion disposed between the slot and the adjacent end of the pocket and a long portion disposed between the slot and the opposite end of the pocket and extending throughout the major portion of the length of the pocket, a stifiening rib having a length substantially equal to the interior length of the pocket for insertion in said pocket, the said relatively short portion being adapted to be stretched over the adjacent end of the rib when the rib is inserted into the pocket through the slot and engages the end of the pocket remote from the slot, and a flexible strap arranged exteriorly of one pocket and extending through the slot into the pocket and attached to the stiffening rib between the ends of the rib and adjacent to the slot.

3. A garment to be applied to a portion of the body, said garment having an upstanding pocket arranged between the substantially horizontal edges of the garment, said pocket being provided in one side and between its ends with an opening, an upstanding stiffening rib within the pocket, and a flexible element secured to the upstanding rib between its ends and passing through the opening to the exterior of the pocket, the arrangement being such that the associate elements are adapted to be arranged in a flat relation.

4. A garment to be applied to a portion of the body, said garment having an upstanding pocket at its side and extending between its opposite substantially horizontal edges and provided between its ends with an opening, an upstanding stiffening rib within the pocket, and a flexible suspension element secured to the rib between its ends at substantially the elevation of said opening and passing through the opening to the exterior of the pocket.

5. A- garter or the like, comprising a body portion, said body portion having upstanding transverse pockets at its side, each pocket extending between the substantially horizontal edges of the garment and being provided adjacent to and spaced from its upper end with an opening, the opening being arranged a greater distance from, the lower end of the pocket than from the upper end thereof, upstanding stiffening ribs in the pockets, a flexible suspension element extending above the garter and secured to one rib between the ends of the same and adjacent to the upper end of the rib at substantially the elevation of the opening and extending through the same.

6. A garter or the like, comprising a body portion having upstanding transverse pockets at its side, said pockets extending between the opposite substantially horizontal edges of the garter and provided in their sides and between their ends with openings, upstanding stiffening ribs held within the pockets, certain of the ribs being provided between their ends with a transverse web and openings upon the opposite sides of the web, and a flexible suspension element passed through the opening of the pocket and the openings of the rib and secured to the transverse web.

'7. A garter or the like, comprising a body portion having opposed substantially horizontal edges and provided at its sides with upstanding transverse pockets arranged between and terminating substantially at such edges, said pockets being provided in their sides and between their ends and nearer corresponding ends with openings, upstanding stiffening ribs adapted for insertion into the pockets through the openings and having substantially the same length as the interior length of the pockets, at least one of the ribs being provided between its ends and nearer one end with a transverse web disposed at substantially the elevation of the opening in the pocket, said rib being provided upon opposite sides of the web with openings and the web being arranged in the plane of the rib, and a flexible suspension element extending above the garter and looped about the web and passing through the openings in the rib and the opening in the pocket, the arrangement being such that the rib, suspension element, and pocket produce a fiat construc- 

